Don’t know how to prevent leaks in your hot water systems? We got you covered, so read on!
Hot water system installation is necessary for locations such as the Central Coast in Australia that experience cold weather mainly during winter. It helps keep people warm whenever they have a shower in the morning, so having trouble with it is a no-no. In line with this, it’s important to know how to prevent leaks in hot water systems.
Here’s the thing:
Not a lot of people know that water heater leaks are inevitable, especially with gas hot water systems. Like any other device, hot water systems age, wear out and need to be replaced. However, there are several things you can do to lengthen the life of your water heater by preventing leaks. To help you with this, we’ve come up with several tips and listed some signs to look out for.
When a leak happens in a water heater, it can result in irreparable damage. That’s why it’s useful to know the causes of hot water system leaks ahead of time. It can let you know things that you should avoid doing before it’s too late. Now, we’re here to inform you of these causes. However there are several reasons for leaks to happen in a water heater, so we’ve come up with a list of the most common ones and here they are:
Old Age
We have to face it. Fact is, as a hot water system ages, most parts of it will wear out. As a result, some rust may form inside the tank of the water heater and it can form holes inside. That, in turn, may develop into leaks.
Faulty Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve
A temperature and pressure (T&P) relief valve is a necessary part of a water heater that helps relieve the pressure inside the tank. When the valve is adjusted incorrectly, the pressure in the tank drastically increases and if it does, it can lead to a leak. Thus, checking the valve regularly to see if it’s too loose and requires tightening is necessary. But, in cases such as an unfixable relief valve, the best thing to do is to replace it with a new one. So, if you’re looking for a T&P relief valve, you can check out Hot Water Today.
Cracked Storage Tank
Too Much Pressure
Just like any plumbing fixture, a water heater experiences naturally occurring water pressure. Pressure develops inside the hot water system because warm water produces steam and fills the empty space of the tank. As the tank gets filled with steam, the pressure becomes too much and cracks the tank of the heater. Thus, leaks happen. As such, a relief valve is needed to relieve the pressure inside the water heater. What’s more, checking the temperature at all times to make sure it’s not set too high is also essential.
Sediment Collection
As hot water systems age, they also collect sediment at the bottom of the tank. And when sediment builds up, cracks may form inside the tank. Water can seep through the cracks leading to leaks. Therefore, cleaning the tank of your water heater should be done regularly. By doing so, sediment buildup won’t be a problem for you.
We know you always hear this, but prevention is better than cure. The same principle goes for hot water system leaks. It’s better to prevent leaks from happening before it causes you to spend hundreds of bucks to fix major problems it results in. So, we’ve provided a few tips in order to help you prevent water heater leaks from happening.
Inspect
Checking every now and then if there are leaks in your hot water system is the best way to prevent serious damage to your water heater. Because responding quickly to any water heater leaks ensures that homeowners won’t face any serious consequences.
Since leaks can cause tons of harmful stuff to happen in your hot water tank, knowing the early warning signs will help you. This way, you can prevent major leaks from happening. In line with this, it’s important to inspect the anode rod, tank, pipes and fittings of your hot water systems. Make sure to also look at other things like water pressure, temperature, or anything that seems unusual.
Maintain
If everything passes your inspection, the next thing to do is to maintain your hot water system. You can do so by doing the following:
- Tighten Loose Parts
Make sure to inspect every part of the water heater to see if there are components that are not tight enough. Since loose parts of a hot water system can lead to leaks, it’s best to avoid having them. You can tighten every part of a water heater using a wrench.
- Have Regular Maintenance
Constant maintenance by a trusted plumber guarantees that your water heater will avoid having leaks in them. But that’s not all, other problems with your plumbing system can be detected when you have regular maintenance.
- Regularly Clean and Drain the Water Heater
Water heaters will unlikely have cracks in them that cause leaks if it gets drained and cleaned regularly. Sediments will build up at the bottom of the tank of a hot water system as time passes. When they do, it can damage the tank and that leads to leaks. Cleaning and draining the tank of your heater will help you avoid this issue.
- Respond Quickly to Water Heater Leaks
Always checking your hot water system is not enough to prevent major leaks, responding quickly to it will. So, knowing a plumber that offers a 24-hour plumbing service is important. If there’s a plumber that you can call in an instant when you do see a sign of a leak, then you’d avoid serious problems.
Don't Overuse
One of the many reasons why we often see leaks occur in our water heaters during the winter season is because of how much they are being used. Constant temperature changes happen in your unit in cold months since it’s being at all times. Thus, it’s important to regulate the use of hot water systems. Another thing you can do is to place your unit in a location that’s not too cold.
Preventing a hot water heater leak is quite challenging when you have an older unit, especially, during the cold months. However, there are a lot of things you can do to avoid such a problem. But when worse comes to worst, knowing a plumber or a hot water expert that can do the work for you is necessary.
So, if there’s an issue that arises with your unit, call Hot Water Today. We’re a company that provides services all throughout Australia including the Central Coast and we specialize in anything that has got to do with hot water systems. Whether it be hot water system installation or heater accessories, we’ve got it all covered.
What’s more, we got all sorts of types of hot water heaters available for sale on our website. From gas hot water systems, and electric water heaters, to a heat pump hot water systems, we have it on hand. Therefore, if you’re looking for a new unit for your home, you know who to call.
But that’s not all!
Our experts can also easily replace the components of your unit that cause leaks. Those are just some of the benefits you can get if you trust us with your hot water heater. So if your hot water system is leaking and you need an expert, call us today.
For more information, visit our website to chat with us!
